Revival of National Championships to continue

Dec 08, 2011 Sports

– says GTTA President

By Edison Jefford
President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) and Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, has said that part of the Strategic Plan of the association has been to revive the National Championships, and that revival will continue in a major way this year.
Greene was speaking to Kaieteur Sport yesterday where he outlined details of the 2011 National Championships that commence tomorrow with the junior competition at Cliff Anderson’s Sports Hall, and runs through the weekend to a Sunday night conclusion.
“Part of our strategic plan has been to revive the National Championships and we want to be able to continue that plan this year,” Greene said, adding that he is expecting a plethora of new talents among the juniors this weekend.
He said that the recently-held Digicel Schools’ Championships has acted as the perfect precursor to this weekend’s start of the National Championships. “We are expecting to see some of the best talents from the schools on show again at the national level,” he indicated.
The GTTA President urged all eligible competitors to ensure that they get registered to compete in the tournament. He especially mentioned those players from Berbice and Linden who has been consistently competing in the association’s competitions. Greene called for the participation of Bartica and other players from the Essequibo area.
He said that the association has done a considerable amount of work around the country to aid in the decentralisation of the sport. To that effect, he opined that it would be unfortunate to have the ultimate forum in the sport without a nationally-reflective participation.
“Our preparations have been well on stream. We are ensuring that our usually high standards are kept and we hope that players jump at this opportunity. We had a meeting last night and I can let you know that every system is in place to host this year-ending event,” Greene said, highlighting the fact that Banks DIH are the major sponsors again this year.
The National Championships returned to the GTTA calendar last year with much pomp and hype with all but few of Guyana’s locally and internationally-based players competing in the event. It had spent two years off the association’s calendar before then.
It was noted that the senior competition is slated for next weekend at the National Gymnasium. It is this aspect of the Championships that attracted the best players last year. Greene informed that he is aware of the interest of Guyana’s US-based players to compete.
“We expect some players from overseas. One or two, I believe, is already here. Among those we expect the Belle brothers (Brad and Brandon) and Michelle John. I believe Trenace Lowe and Idi Lewis are already here. So indeed we are courting our best players,” Greene noted.
The GTTA President observed that a keen battle between Idi Lewis and Christopher Franklin is brewing at the 2011 Championships. Asked if he believes defending champion, Godfrey Munroe should play, Greene said that he thinks that is Munroe’s choice.
“A player has to decide when he retires; Munroe has been very involved in the administration of table tennis to the point where I doubt he had the time to train. It is a personal decision, and I am sympathetic with his situation,” Greene told this newspaper on that subject.
He encouraged the senior players to come out stating that “our prizes are very attractive” because we have a number of sponsors coming on board. The official launch of the competition is set for December 10 with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony, expected to be the main speaker.

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Revival of National Championships to continue

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